Plenty of options to learn something new in 2013

Published: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 07:27 PM.

PANAMA CITY
— Beginning a new chapter of learning starts in August for those in school, but others decide to learn something new for their New Year’s resolution.

Robin Schader, library director of the Bay County Public Library, said the new year displays of information near the library entrance always clear out quickly.

“Anything you don’t know is new to you,” Schader said. “We offer a lot of resources people can use to learn something new; if you want to get into gardening or bird watching this year, learn how to play instrument or create art, we have a lot of stuff on those. A lot of people get into their family history because they saw the whole family at holidays. They want to research their genealogy.”

She said the library’s after hours genealogy classes fill up quickly; the classes, starting Jan. 17, are done after normal library hours and include more computer time than is available during the day and help with research.

“Staff from the local history department and local genealogy society help, so people can get help no matter what their level of comfort is for research,” Schader said.

She said other popular topics are financial planning, organizing, stress management, nutrition and getting in shape.

PANAMA CITY — Beginning a new chapter of learning starts in August for those in school, but others decide to learn something new for their New Year’s resolution.

Robin Schader, library director of the Bay County Public Library, said the new year displays of information near the library entrance always clear out quickly.

“Anything you don’t know is new to you,” Schader said. “We offer a lot of resources people can use to learn something new; if you want to get into gardening or bird watching this year, learn how to play instrument or create art, we have a lot of stuff on those. A lot of people get into their family history because they saw the whole family at holidays. They want to research their genealogy.”

She said the library’s after hours genealogy classes fill up quickly; the classes, starting Jan. 17, are done after normal library hours and include more computer time than is available during the day and help with research.

“Staff from the local history department and local genealogy society help, so people can get help no matter what their level of comfort is for research,” Schader said.

She said other popular topics are financial planning, organizing, stress management, nutrition and getting in shape.

Jim Barr, coordinator for the Continuing Education Department at Gulf Coast State College, said their spring classes are always more popular.

“I really believe people reassess their lives and health issues and come to the conclusion that just as exercising our body keeps us physically fit, exercising our mind keeps us mentally fit, so I think that plays a factor,” Barr said.

One of their more popular classes, in addition to the computer classes, is the “Hitting Your Reset Button” class, which covers a combination of physical and mental health factors like nutrition and how stress affects the body.

He said their motto of “No Tests!! No Grades!! No Stress!! Just Fun!!” intrigues many people and they emphasize no one is too old to learn.